Vacuum comb



May 23, 1939. c. E. MITCHELL VACUUM COMB Filed Aug. 27, 1938 INVENTOR ware/n75 I Patented May 23, 1939 umraosrA'ri-zs PATENT OFFICE I Application August 27,1938, Serial No. 227,157

3 Claims.

This invention relates to vacuum attachments and particularly is directed to a vacuum comb, the principal object being to provide an especially inexpensive appliance in the field of dermatic-instruments which, by the expedient of an effective application to the skin of the suction obtaining in the conventional home-type vacuum cleaner, most effectively removes cuticle exfoliations from the hair and scalp and otherwise tones the skin to the end of checking dandruff and promoting the normal growth of hair.

The therapeutic value of developing a partial vacuum upon affected parts of the body through the medium of suction cups" is generally recogl5 nized, the applied vacuum being effective to lessen' the air pressure on the immediate portion of the skin being treated and induce a favorable condition by the resultant hyperemia or rush of blood a to the part affected. In the case of a scurfy area,

the use of vacuum is especially advantageous as a cleaner and distinguished from dandruff-removing shampoo preparations, is particularly effective in its removal of the scales by reason of the dry condition of the scalp which obtains,a condition which serves to retain the natural oils essential to an elimination of dandruff from the skin.

It may be here stated that there has been heretofore developed a hair-toning appliance operatlng by alternating forces of vacuum and pressure and while this appliance has been very favorably received the use thereof, by reason of its expensive nature, is to all practical purposes restricted to commercial establishments such as barber shops and beauty parlors wherein the use on numerous patients, even where utmost precautions are taken to maintain a sanitary condition, not infrequently results in a transfer of the highly infectious trichophyton or other skin germ or parasite far more troublesome than the scaly dandruff for which treatments are taken. A further and major objection to the referred-to instrument is the absence of any form of physical massage with its beneficial stimulas to the follicles of the hair.

f Generally aimed toward providing a most 1 Y efl'lcient vacuum-operated scalp-treating appli- .ance for home use, specific objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the course of the following description and the claims annexed thereto, the invention consisting in the novel construction, adaptation,

and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed. 4 I

In the drawing:

Figure l is an underside plan view of a vacuum comb constructed in accordance with the present invention and shown attached to the flexible hose of a vacuum cleaner; and

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

According to my invention I provide a vacuum cup which is molded from relatively soft rubber in the form of a head 3 centrally apertured as at 4 and having a tubular shank-piece 5 leading at an angle rearwardly from the center aperture, the shank-piece operating as an adapter for the attachment of the head to the flexible hose 6 of a vacuum cleaner of the type ordinarily used in the home. The face of the vacuum head, generally concave in form, is bounded by a relatively thin annular wall I and provides radially-spaced circular tiers of massaging fingers 8. The fingers desirably lie in equidistant relation to one another and are of a height such that an arc marginally defined by the wall and passing over the apices of the fingers conforms generally to the curve of the scalp.

It will be readily seen that the flange 7 of the head, being highly flexible to readily conform to the irregularities of the scalp, provides the maximum of suction for the comb and that the massaging fingers, vibrationally influenced by the force of vacuumpmost effectively stimulate the hair follicles and generally tonethe skin.

While I have specifically described'the illustrated preferred embodiment of the invention it is my intention that the claims be given a scope in their interpretation commensurate with the state of the advance in the art.

What I claim, is:

1. A vacuum comb for use as an attachment for the flexible hose of a home-type vacuum cleaner composed of a molded rubber head formed with a centrally apertured concave face and providing a tubular shank-piece communicating with the center aperture and extending rearwardly from the head for the attachment of the head to the hose, the head having a flexible peripheral wall and being formed with radially spaced circular tiers of massaging fingers extending from the concave face and terminating on arcuate lines defining, with the peripheral wall, the approximate curve of the scalp.

2. The vacuum comb defined in claim 1 wherein the shank-piece extends at an angle to the axial line of the head to facilitate manipulation of the comb over the scalp.

3. A vacuum comb for use as an attachment for the flexible hose of a home-type vacuum cleaner composed of a head molded in rubber to form a centrally apertured concave iaee with a fingers extending from the concave race and tubular shank-piece communicating with the terminating on arcuate lines defining, with the center aperture and extending rearwardly from peripheral wall, the approximate curve of the the head for the attachment or the head to the scalp.

hose, the head having a flexible peripheral wall CLARENCE E. MITCHELL. and being formed with multiple massaginz 

